International

The UN has said that now is “not the time” to withdraw funding from the WHO, following Donald Trump’s decision to halt his country’s contribution to the health agency.

Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said the WHO’s work was essential to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic effectively and that its resources should be maintained.

This followed Mr Trump’s funding cut announcement on Tuesday, in which the president claimed the WHO "failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable."

Mr Guterres said: “It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19.”

He added that the organisation had thousands of staff across the world working on the front lines to support the “most vulnerable” especially and to offer “concrete life-saving services”.